Prevention of bone loss in renal transplant recipients: A prospective, randomized trial of intravenous pamidronate

Renal transplant recipients are at risk of developing bone abnormalities that result in bone loss and bone fractures. These are related to underlying renal osteodystrophy, hypophosphatemia, and immunosuppressive treatment regimen. Although bisphosphonates are useful in ameliorating bone mineral loss after transplantation, it is not known whether their use in renal transplant patients leads to excessive suppression of bone turnover and increased incidence of adynamic bone disease. A randomized, prospective, controlled, clinical trial was conducted using the bisphosphonate pamidronate intravenously in patients with new renal transplants. Treatment subjects (PAM) received pamidronate with vitamin D and calcium at baseline and at months 1, 2, 3, and 6. Control (CON) subjects received vitamin D and calcium only. During months 6 to 12, the subjects were observed without pamidronate treatment. Biochemical parameters of bone turnover were obtained monthly and, bone mineral density (BMD) was obtained at baseline and months 6 and 12. Bone biopsies for mineralized bone histology were obtained at baseline and at 6 mo in a subgroup of subjects who underwent scheduled living donor transplantation. PAM preserved bone mass at 6 and 12 mo as measured by bone densitometry and histomorphometry. CON had decreased vertebral BMD at 6 and 12 mo (4.8 ± 0.08 and 6.1 ± 0.09%, respectively). Biochemical parameters of bone turnover were similar in both groups at 6 and 12 mo. Bone histology revealed low turnover bone disease in 50% of the patients at baseline. At 6 mo, all of PAM had adynamic bone disease, whereas 50% of CON continued to have or developed decreased bone turnover. Pamidronate preserved vertebral BMD during treatment and 6 mo after cessation of treatment. Pamidronate treatment was associated with development of adynamic bone histology. Whether an improved BMD with adynamic bone histology is useful in maintaining long-term bone health in renal transplant recipients requires further study.